How can both be true in southern spain?
 

I just read on this forum that Granada goes sub zero in winters but I am also suggested that southern spain is warmest to go in end NOvember..how can both be true? please advise as I am booking flight to malaga for a warm week in southern spain and would hate it if I find snow there.
Thanks

No...Granada, Spain does not go sub-zero in winter.

Check www.wunderground.com for average weather information based on historical temps.

Correction...the highs aren't sub zero (50s) but the nights get pretty cold (freezing, a few degrees below freezing).

If you check a map you'll see that Granada is not on the coast, but inland, in the mountains and yes, it does get rather cool at night in the wintertime. The Sierra Nevada (just west of downtown Granada) is one of Spain's major ski areas.

www.andalucia.com/sports/ski.htm

Granada is at a high elevation. I also think it certainly could get to be sub-zero in the nearby mountains because there is skiing close to there in winter. Sub-zero is anything below freezing. It all depends on altitude.

will the weather be warm in cordoba/malaga then? i really want a place with architecture/culture....not just the beaches..

It DOES go sub zero in CELSIUS:

For example:

12/8
Min Temperature 23°F / -5°C(1998)

good point:-)

Yes, as I wrote above, sub-zero is anything below freezing, which is 0-degrees C.

First of all - you need to figure out if the sub-zero is farenheit or centigrade (with zero being just freezing - so not very cold for winter).

Second, Granada won't be sub-zero but southern Spain is mountainous and as you rise in altitude you drop in termperature.

If you stick to the coast the temps will probably be in the 50's, perhaps 60 - as warm as you get in europe at that time of year.

In any case - November isn't mid-winter for the worst weather. It's more the end of autumn.

hi, insearch,

as others have said, the climate is affected by whether you are by the coast or inland, especially if near mountains, as Granada is.

when we went to Granada 2 years ago, in the middle of november, we were amused that whilst we were wearing t-shirts in the day, the locals had on their winter coats and the shops were full of fur and boots. there was snow on the tops of the mountains and it got cold at night and rained too, but not too much.

on the other hand, Malaga was much warmer at night and we had lunch outside at a beach restaurant no the way back to the airport.

IMO the likelhood of snow in malaga is remote. on the top of sierra navada, it's quite high.

regards, ann

Thanks Ann...

well rt now I am thinking of flying to Madrid stay there 3-4 days and then stay in seville 3-4 days with day trips around both ...

does it look good ?

Madrid can be quite cold - what temps are you looking for?

Compare Spain's weather to North Carolina's weather. Winters are more temperate but they do have mountains in the south, the Sierra Nevada. They also have freezing temps at night, but days are mild for winter.

I was there in March some years ago and it was completely snow covered!

hi again, insearch,

you'd have to look at those temp charts again, but my guess would be that Madrid will be hotter or colder than Malaga or seville, depending on whether the summer has gone or not. it has an essentially continental climate, whereas Seville and especially Malaga have maritime climates.

the basic plan is good though with in 3-4 days in both places, you won't have much time for side trips.

have you looked at the great guides prepared by our very own maribel?

www.maribelsguides.com

regards, ann